CHAPTER NINETY-ONE
(part four)

“What?” Honey asked.

“Can you shop?” Valerie asked.

“Of course I can shop!” Honey said. “At least I think I can. Just because I’m in this wheelchair and have limited use of my hands doesn’t mean I can’t do it.”

“How about this?” Sandy asked. “Honey organizes the shopping and Jill or I will go with her to help.”

“I can go,” Valerie said.

“You and a billion photographers,” Jill said.

“I can still go,” Valerie said. “The photographers can’t go in the store.”

“Ok, one of us will go with Honey to help,” Sandy said. “Does that work?”

“I wonder if we could get Blane to cook dinner for us,” Valerie said. “He’s an amazing chef.”

Jill and Sandy gave Valerie a puzzled look.

“He went to Chef’s school. He used to be a Sous Chef at the Capital. He’s really amazing. Have you had his chocolate cake?”

“To. Die. For.” Jill said. Sandy nodded.

“He’d probably do it,” Valerie said. “But with Mack and everything, it’s kind of a lot to ask.”

“I can cook,” Jill said.

The women looked at her with doubt.

“Really,” Jill said. “I used to cook all our meals when I was a kid. That was my household job. I’m not a Chef, but I can cook. With school and working for Jake, I have time to do it.”

“I’ll make bread and pastries,” Sandy said. “That would be fun for me.”

“I’ll work out a menu for the week,” Honey said. “I’ll coordinate everyone’s contributions into a schedule and do the shopping.”

“Wow, that’s a lot Honey. Are you sure?” Valerie asked.

“I want to do it,” Honey said. “MJ and I… We really like living here. It’s the least I can do.”

“What will I do?” Valerie asked.

“You’re going back to Prague, right?” Jill asked.

“Next Sunday. But I’ll be home in four weeks. Then I’m here until we have the baby.” Valerie’s face clouded again. “If we have the baby.”

Jill hugged Valerie. Valerie sighed then pushed her sadness away.

“When I get back, I can help run the household. If Delphie’s not better, we’ll need to plant the gardens, mow the lawn, take care of the maintenance, and…”

“Delphie does a lot for us,” Sandy said.

The women nodded.

“We need to do this for her,” Jill said.

“We can do this,” Honey said. “I’ll get everything organized. Maybe I’ll ask Blane if he could cook Sunday dinner.”

“That’s a great idea,” Sandy said. “We can have everyone here for Sunday dinner. I’d like that.”

The women nodded in agreement to Sandy.

“We can do this,” Jill repeated.

“I wish we didn’t have to,” Honey said.

Denver Cereal continues tomorrow…